We interview Penny Turpin of Farnborough Kids Club Ltd, a client of Culverhouse & Co
since 2011.
Published 2 November 2022
Background
Eleven years ago Penny, a former teacher, sought a career change and identified the need for quality local childcare in the area. She set up Farnborough Kids Club Ltd, providing affordable before and after school childcare at the local primary school in a ‘home from home’ environment.
Her business has grown from a small operation that ran two days a week looking after a handful of children, to a five day a week operation caring for 45 children per session, with
two sessions every day. Her team of employees has grown from a number of part timers to a full time team of four all of whom are experienced education and childcare practitioners.
Children enjoy a wide range of activities based around weekly themes, including craft, cookery, music, construction, sport and more plus are served a healthy nutritious
breakfast and after school snacks.
Penny says: “ I had a clear vision for Kids Club and the skillset to make this a reality. However, running a business was new to me and I had little understanding of what was required. A friend who is an accountant helped me to set up some systems but I realised I needed to find someone locally who could support me on an ongoing basis which is when I found
Culverhouse & Co”.
Working with Culverhouse & Co
Penny continues “In the early days Dave helped me to set up all the systems I would need, including invoicing and receipts, tax and payroll.
Working with him is like having an additional specialist on the team who takes away all the accountancy and business related stress, allowing me to focus on running the business
using my educational knowledge.
He always ensures that no deadlines are missed and that everything we do is compliant. Dave is always available at the end of a phone, by email or in the office. When times were
more difficult, his analysis of the financial situation and support has enabled me to believe that things would get better.
He’s also helped to transfer our accountancy records online to comply with HMRC’s ‘Making Tax Digital’. The impact of this on the business and my time is incredible. It used to take me
five or six hours to create invoices and then deliver them by hand. Now I can do this at the click of a button, with receipts being sent out immediately. I also have all the information to
hand to answer any queries. I feel so much more ‘in charge’ and my business has much more of a professional air”.
Financial Planning Support
As well as being Chartered Accountants, Culverhouse and Co are also Chartered Financial Planners. Penny continues: “I really value the fact that there are a variety of specialists on hand at Culverhouse & Co. Claire’s input on the financial planning side of things has been greatly appreciated. She helped me to set up a Company Pension Scheme to comply with
auto enrolment.
She has also helped me in planning for the future and understanding how to make my money work for me”.